(Trenton, NJ) – The New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH) recently awarded $75,300 in Incubation Grant funding to six organizations. Incubation Grants help organizations plan, research, develop, and prototype public humanities projects and events. From investigating potential components of a new program to learning more about audiences, NJCH funding supports projects in early stages of development.
Public humanities programming allows individuals to engage in lifelong learning and share in the exploration of history, values, cultures, and beliefs. NJCH supports and acts as a resource for cultural and service-oriented nonprofit partners as they bring the public humanities to the residents of New Jersey, harnessing the power of the humanities to strengthen communities.
Grants were awarded to:
- George Street Playhouse, New Brunswick ($5,000) to create oral history-based audio documentaries in conjunction with Rutgers Collaborative Centerthat will illuminate the concerns and aspirations of New Brunswick’s Latinx residents.
- McCarter Theatre Center, Princeton ($20,000) to test how different configurations of their physical space and varied types of programs can encourage insightful and illuminating discussions where art, culture, and diverse perspectives intersect.
- Passaic County, Dept. of Cultural and Historic Affairs, Wayne ($20,000) to re-interpret, as part of a multi-year project, the Dey Mansion to illuminate untold stories of those in servitude at the mansion throughout its history.
- PCK Media, in conjunction with Stockton University, Trenton ($19,800) to develop a documentary film for public television about Rose Marie McCoy, a pioneering African American woman from Teaneck who wrote hits recorded by Elvis Presley, Ike and Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, and more in the 1950s and 60s.
- Raíces Cultural Center, New Brunswick ($5,000) to develop a research initiative that examines the role and impact of gender in folkloric expressions and cultural traditions from Latin American, the Caribbean, and the diaspora.
- St. Peter’s University, Jersey City ($5,500) to create an “Artist’s Beit Midrash,” a process based on a discourse method traditionally used for Torah study, to explore the university’s rare hand-illuminated St. John’s Bible.
“Storytelling and the opportunity for interactive discussion is an important component of each of these projects,” said Director of Grants & Programs Gigi Naglak. “We’re proud to work with grantees who create space for connection and understanding among community members. These efforts will always have multi-faceted impact across our state.”
As a humanities-focused nonprofit re-granting organization, NJCH awards Incubation Grants to experiment, research, prototype, and consider new models and topics for public humanities programs. Incubation and Action Grant funding can range from $2,000 to $20,000 per project. Organizations interested in learning more about NJCH’s grant program should visit the Council’s website.
About the New Jersey Council for the Humanities
The New Jersey Council for the Humanities is a nonprofit state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. NJCH harnesses the power of the humanities to strengthen our pluralistic society. We envision a New Jersey that delights in diversity, appreciates that there are no easy answers, and finds joy and understanding in the humanities. We work statewide with cultural and community organizations to bring dynamic programming to the local level.
